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Today's Rundown

Johnson & Johnson trots out two-dose COVID vaccine data as it builds case for boosters
European antitrust regulator delivers ultimatum to Illumina over $8B Grail deal
Kaiser Permanente union authorizes strike vote amid stalled contract negotiations
Verrica's lead drug VP-102 rejected by FDA thanks to issues at contract manufacturer
Aerie CEO exits days after downplaying midphase eye disease flop
Ascension latest nonprofit to rebound with $5.7B net income for 2021
Merck women's health spinoff Organon debuts first awareness campaign, taking on unplanned pregnancy
Bristol Myers, Genentech and Celgene bought their old biotechs. Stafford and co. are ready for their next $60M act
NextGen Healthcare taps former Teladoc exec Sides as new CEO amid boardroom spat
Boston Scientific offers up $336M to devour Devoro Medical and its blood clot removal tech
COVID-19 tracker: U.S. vaccine donation effort running into logistical hurdles

Featured Story

Johnson & Johnson trots out two-dose COVID vaccine data as it builds case for boosters

By Kevin Dunleavy

Johnson & Johnson showed that a second shot of its COVID-19 vaccine given two months after the first provides 94% protection against symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% protection against severe disease. Additionally, the two doses given two months apart yield a four- to six-fold increase in antibody levels.

European antitrust regulator delivers ultimatum to Illumina over $8B Grail deal

By Conor Hale

The European Commission described its actions as an unprecedented step in response to the companies’ defiant move last month, which finalized an $8 billion transaction in the face of pending antitrust probes on both sides of the Atlantic.

Kaiser Permanente union authorizes strike vote amid stalled contract negotiations

By Dave Muoio

The union of 24,000 nurses and other healthcare professionals say that the California provider's weak pay increase proposal will lead to staffing shortages. A Kaiser representative responded by highlighting the high cost of care and union members' existing above-average compensation.

Verrica's lead drug VP-102 rejected by FDA thanks to issues at contract manufacturer

By Joseph Keenan

Verrica Pharmaceuticals, which is seeking approval for a medication to treat skin diseases, said the FDA issued a complete response letter that outlines problems at a CMO facility being used to manufacture the treatment.

Aerie CEO exits days after downplaying midphase eye disease flop

By Nick Paul Taylor

Maybe primary endpoints matter after all. Days after dismissing the importance of a midphase flop, Aerie Pharmaceuticals CEO Vicente Anido has left the company, leaving an interim leader to pursue what he claimed was “a clear path toward approval.”

Ascension latest nonprofit to rebound with $5.7B net income for 2021

By Dave Muoio

The faith-based nonprofit logged greater revenue and operating income for the year, but noted that volumes were consistently disrupted. It credited government funds and investment successes for its ability to sustain services.

Merck women's health spinoff Organon debuts first awareness campaign, taking on unplanned pregnancy

By Natalie Missakian

When Merck's women’s health spinoff Organon launched in June, it promised to listen to—and amplify—women’s voices on overlooked health concerns. Now, the company is getting specific, with its first public awareness video tackling unplanned pregnancy.

Bristol Myers, Genentech and Celgene bought their old biotechs. Stafford and co. are ready for their next $60M act

By Emmy Lucas

Jeffrey Stafford and his team of industry veterans have seen their biotechs go on to be acquired by the likes of Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb and Celgene. Now, the collective is ready for its next venture: launching RNA biotech 858 Therapeutics with a $60 million series A fundraising.

NextGen Healthcare taps former Teladoc exec Sides as new CEO amid boardroom spat

By Heather Landi

Ambulatory technology company NextGen Healthcare tapped former Teladoc executive David Sides as its new chief executive officer. Sides takes the reins as the health IT company is embroiled in a very public boardroom spat. Company founder Sheldon Razin launched a proxy campaign for an alternative slate of director candidates for board seats.

Boston Scientific offers up $336M to devour Devoro Medical and its blood clot removal tech

By Andrea Park

The deal will see Boston Scientific put down about $269 million up front to acquire Devoro, in which it has been a strategic investor since 2019. Down the line, it’ll pay out up to another $67 million as its new subsidiary hits certain unspecified clinical and regulatory milestones.

COVID-19 tracker: U.S. vaccine donation effort running into logistical hurdles

By Noah Higgins-Dunn,Kevin Dunleavy,Fraiser Kansteiner,Emmy Lucas

As the United States works to get doses to developing countries, those health systems are running into logistical problems. Officials are warning about false positive tests from Abbott Laboratories. Plus more.

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